Filmmaker Spotlight - Michael Collins, Director of BEIRUT DREAMS IN COLOR

This post was written by Kate Twomey, Caroline Jones, Jasmina Kurtovic, and Casey Killeen, members of Mr. Ryan’s AP Language and Composition class. We are grateful to Mr. Collins for his time. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Mashrou’ Leila are indie rock gods in the Arab world. But their fame comes with a price. In a part of the world where singing about politics or sexuality is more than a little risky — and with an openly gay lead singer — Mashrou’ Leila’s very existence and success is unprecedented.

BEIRUT DREAMS IN COLOR screens as part of SHORT BLOCK 2, which can be streamed through Sunday, April 2.

Michael Collins directed GIVE UP TOMORROW (SFF 2012) and ALMOST SUNRISE (SFF 2017).

MHS: How did you find this project? 

Michael Collins: Back in 2017, I was in Beirut and was fortunate to be introduced to Tarek Zaiden, who helms the oldest LGBTQIA+ rights organization in the Middle East, Helem. He told me about the rise in bullying and violence that the queer community in Lebanon was experiencing at the hands of the government security forces. 

MHS: How did you find out about the band?

MC: [Zaiden] told me about Mashrou’ Leila - a popular indie band from Beirut whose lead singer, Hamed Sinno, was openly gay. Their music reflected all of the politics that they were observing and reacting to, and this included the queer experience from a very personal point of view. In fact, their song “The Smell of Jasmine” is known to be perhaps the first gay love song in the Arab world. This level of queer visibility is revolutionary in most countries, but, in this region, also dangerously tabooed. 

MHS: How did you find and choose your subjects? 

MC: I started listening to their music, [and] I was hooked. I experienced the power of it; how it resonates with truths that go beyond spoken language. I wished I had grown up with such beautiful artists to look up to, and in my awkward youth be reassured that there was, indeed, in this crazy, motley world, a space for me.

MHS: Why do you think the band’s music is so important?

MC: As Tarek points out in the film, “One good song can do more than 5000 protests.” It’s pretty self-evident that the very existence of this band, their fearless and often joyful expression of their experiences combined with their sheer talent, have done more to further the queer movement than we’ll ever know. But sadly, as their fame has grown, so has their perceived power in upsetting the status quo, making them a target for all kinds of attacks.  

MHS: Why do you think it’s so important for people to have this kind of representation, especially in the Middle East?

MC: It became obvious to me why they are hugely famous all over the Middle East. This added to the devastation of learning that one by one they were being banned from performing in most countries in the region, including Egypt, their biggest fan-base. But Lebanon always seemed like one place they could return to, especially their hometown of Beirut, which was historically known as a relatively liberal oasis, hence dubbed as “The Paris of the Middle East”.  Yet by the time I reached them, that no longer held true.  

MHS: Can you relate to the issues faced by the band and their fans in the film?

MC: As a queer man who grew up in a Christian country, I could relate to feelings of being less-than that were ever-present in the lack of positive queer representation in media -- we were relegated to caricatures or monsters. I could relate to the death-by-a-thousand-cuts all queer kids feel as the preachers and politicians use them as tools to drum up fear, votes, and all the benefits of othering and dividing to serve their needs.

MHS: What does this film mean to you?

MC: For me, this is the most personal film I’ve made. The process has forced me to confront my own past, and the lingering traumas of living in a society that continues to steer so many of our queer siblings to early deaths.  BEIRUT DREAMS IN COLOR is a film about belonging; a cautionary tale about what happens when greedy, fearful political and religious groups join forces to rehash some archaic worldview that feels more comfortable for them.

MHS: What do you want your audience to take away from this film?

MC: Cocooned within the tragedy, I also discovered hope in the spirit of Sarah Hegazi, a young Egyptian woman, a luminous leader who was silenced in the worst way. I hope through this film more people can meet Sarah and find inspiration in her voice. But I also wanted us to collectively have a space to grieve her loss, an act that is often robbed of those whose safety depends on their anonymity.

Meet Salem Film Fest Director Joe Ferrari

This post was written by Grace Promise and Livia Weiss of Mr. Connor Ryan’s AP Language and Composition class. We thank Joe Ferrari for coming to Marblehead High School to speak to us about his experience volunteering at Salem Film Fest. The below interview is edited for length and clarity. 

photo credit: Bobbie Bush

MHS: How did you end up in Salem?

Joe Ferrari: I grew up outside of Milwaukee; then I went to law school in New Hampshire. A couple of friends were from Boston, so I got to visit them. I really loved the area, [and when] I met my wife, Beki we moved out here.

MHS: What did you major in? And what do you do for work?

JF: I double majored in Political Science and Film. I am a lawyer by trade, but I work for a software company making contracts/negotiations. 

photo credit: Fae Phoenix Photo

MHS: What got you interested in the Salem Film Fest? 

JF: I've always just loved film. When we first moved to Salem, we dove headfirst into the community --  volunteering, cleanups, working with city counselors, working with the Film Fest. I became really good friends with the organizers. It didn't feel like work because there were such great people around me, and it's a really great festival. 

MHS: What is your role in Salem Film Fest? 

JF:  I [first] volunteered for the Fest at the beginning of 2015. I started out by cutting ballots over at Cinema Salem, and then I worked my way up to more complicated tasks. I became a film usher, and in the last few years, I worked on the Sponsorship Committee.

This is my first year as Director of the Film Fest. I’m involved in party planning, social media outreach, advertising, helping book visiting filmmakers, and just general operations. It's coordinating everything and making sure everything stays on the rails leading up to the Fest.

photo credit: Fae Phoenix Photo

MHS: When do you start planning for the Fest?

JF: I started planning on August 1st, and that wasn't enough time to start the planning. Planning for the 2024 Festival is going to start at the end of April or early May.

MHS: Do you have an all-time favorite Film Fest film?

JF: There was this film called KEDI about cats running around the streets in Turkey. KEDI was playing at the PEM around five years ago, and it was completely sold out. People were trying to get in and couldn't, so they were sitting in the aisles to watch it.

Salem Film Fest 2016, at the in-person screening of KEDI. Photo by John Andrews.

MHS: What do you enjoy the most about volunteering?

JF: The camaraderie of the people and the sense of community [that] builds off of that. I really love being part of this community. 

MHS: What are some main challenges you face? 

JF: It's people pulling me in so many different directions. It's tough to balance or manage all of that. As a director, I want to be as responsive as I can. 

MHS: What do you think viewers should know about the Fest?

JF: Everyone in our community should know about [the Fest], especially what we do with the filmmakers – providing stipends, not charging them, splitting revenues, being able to discuss their films [with a live audience]. We're really a unique film festival that our co-founders Joe Cultrera, Rinus Oosthoek and Paul Van Ness founded 16 years ago. My goal is to continue it for years to come.

Meet Salem Film Fest Sponsorship Director Deb Linehan

This post was written by Connor Ryan’s AP Language and Composition class at Marblehead High School. The below interview is edited for length and clarity.

MHS: What did you do before getting involved with the Salem Film Fest?

Deb Linehan: I have done a multitude of things. I'm a coach to artists, writers, and creative leaders. Right now, I also work as a paraprofessional at the Salem Academy Charter School in the Special Ed department, which is really fantastic. I love working there and working with kids. I'm currently the Literary Manager for the Actors Studio Playwright Director Unit in New York City. I'm a writer, director, and producer, and I'm also an equity actor and stage manager.

MHS: Can you tell us about your coaching? What does that look like? 

DL: I've been a coach since about 2010, and I used to work with folks, coaching them in life and career support. Since then, I've narrowed it down, and I work mostly with people who are interested in writing a book or getting their story out. 

MHS: Did we also hear correctly that you were part of the Upright Citizens Brigade? What was that experience like?

DL: I studied at UCB. In improv, there's this philosophy: “Yes, and…” that is wonderful in real life, because when you're living with people in the world, and they offer something, rather than being resistant and saying no, you can say yes. I'm also an active Buddhist in philosophy. Whenever I think I know the answer, I'm in trouble. There's a saying, “assume positive intent”. Look for what's right and assume that everybody else is doing their best, and that their intentions are good and positive. 

photo credit: Fae Phoenix Photo

MHS: When did you get into this volunteering job and how did you find out about it?

DL: In 2007, I moved from the Salem area to New York City and lived there for about a year. I rented a room from this guy, Joe, who was also from Salem. He and I would hang out sometimes when he was in town, and he told me about this film fest that he just started. 15 years later, I moved back to Salem, and jumped right in and got involved with the Film Fest.

MHS: Was there any reason that you became the Sponsorship Director, or was it just by chance?

DL: I had a conversation with Joe Ferrari, who is the current Director of the Fest, and we were chatting about what's going on with the festival where there was a need. I have a history in fundraising and development, so I said, I'd love to be on the team. My history of doing fundraising taught me to never be afraid to ask for money; if you have a project that is really worthwhile that you believe in, it can be really easy, because this is a real project that's gonna change people's lives. 

MHS: When you're asking for sponsorships, what's your tactic to get the most out of it that you can?

DL: The word tactic, a lot of people would think, “oh, that sounds manipulative,” but I don't think so. I think tactic means what's in your toolbox, and I think attitude is everything. When asking for money, I never walk up to someone expecting them to open their wallet, and to donate anything to what you're representing. Knowing that what you have is not for everybody is important, but also make sure to talk about the history of the organization and what has been done already to show a proven track record. 

MHS: How do you think social media has affected Salem Film Fest, especially with advertising?

DL: I think social media is fantastic in terms of getting the word out and getting people in seats. We can reach a wider audience than ever before. I think Salem Film Fest could leverage social media even more, but it takes a team of media experts to really leverage those platforms. So I think social media is fantastic. We're able to work with other venues as well, who are interested in doing blog posts and posting on our behalf. 

MHS: Have you seen a lot of films that are going to be presented at the Film Fest?

DL: No! I am very excited to be there and participate, and see these films for the first time, just like everybody else in the audience. I did get to see all of the trailers, and get a sense of what I'm excited about seeing, but even then, there's so many films to choose from. So I'm going to have to go through the trailers again, and really strategize what I want to make sure I get to see.

photo credit: Fae Phoenix Photo

MHS: What for you, are the benefits of being a part of the Film Fest? Why would you recommend doing this to other people?

DL: Oh, well, buckle your seatbelts. I'm a creative person, I love to make theater, I love to read books. I love storytelling in every single form. I believe that storytelling saves lives, period. We get to understand each other better; there may be something I see in the documentary about a person that I might have an opinion about, and it could change my mind. Also, this film festival gives us an opportunity to come together, have our minds changed, or have our minds blown, and then be with other people who have seen that documentary and have conversations after. It's a way for us to connect as a society, and to grow and learn, especially in this world where we're so divided. There's a lot of talk these days about empathy, and growing our empathy. Films in this film fest are an opportunity for us to grow that in this world.

Meet Salem Film Fest Assistant Director Brooklyn Brown-Northrup

This post was written by Caroline Jones, Jasmina Kurtovic, Kate Twomey, and Lauren Zisson of Mr. Connor Ryan’s AP Language and Composition class. We thank Ms. Brooklyn Brown-Northrup for coming to Marblehead High School to speak to us about her experience volunteering at the Salem Film Fest. The below interview is edited for length and clarity.

photo credit: Fae Phoenix Photo

Lauren Z: Did you grow up in the area?

Brooklyn Brown-Northrup: I was born in Detroit, MI. When I was fifteen years old my mom and I moved to Long Beach, CA. I went to college in Long Beach and then I went into the Air Force. I was a linguist for French, that was my peacetime, and then my combat duty was Search and Rescue. After, I got married, moved to Washington state, [and] I had a horse ranch. Then I was offered a fellowship to study at Brandeis. After graduating from Brandeis, I was overseas working with NGOs, and [then] I went back to the VA hospital and worked with veterans who were coming back from combat and re-adjusting to civilian life. 

Kate T: How did you first get involved in the film fest?

BB-N: There was a member on one of the selection committees, the only African American at the time that was on the selection committee - I’m the second African American - he brought me on kind of thinking that the film fest could benefit from more diversity. There was nothing going on or pressing at the time that called for that, but I think he just wanted to add some more melatonin to the group. His name is Tiegh Benod, and he’s been involved in the film fest for years. He invited me to come on board, and then from there Bobbie Bush, one of our assistant directors, pulled me more towards the administration piece.

LZ: What does your role at the film fest involve?

BB-N: This is my third year with the Film Fest. This year, we have a changing of the guard where we have a new director, Joey Ferrari. We created three assistant directors to work with him, so I took on the assistant director role. Then, our volunteer coordinator was not able to continue working, so I took over his position. Then, we lost the person who does our hospitality and accommodations for the filmmakers, so I’m also doing that, which is basically finding hotel rooms for them. So these aren't my typical roles, but that’s what I’m doing this year.

LZ: Do you have a favorite Film Fest film [and] a favorite film genre?

BB-N: That would be comedy, [it] can be [an] effective way to introduce very difficult issues on a lighter side without diminishing the issue. Comedy to me is like food and music, everyone, on some level, enjoys it. Last year [Salem Film Fest] had a film called CAT DADDIES - one of the stories in the film is about a homeless gentleman, who found this little kitten in the gutter in New York. What I found very interesting about that dynamic, as a social worker, was watching how he survived. 

Brooklyn with Fest Director Joe Ferrari at Opening Night SFF2023. photo credit: Fae Phoenix Photo

Caroline J: What do you enjoy most about volunteering?

BB-N: What I get back from it. Initially, I thought, “oh I’m gonna volunteer and I’ll be able to help people”, which I do, but I didn’t anticipate the reward that I got back from it. It allows me to still be part of a community [and] I’m able to build relationships, particularly with people I otherwise wouldn’t. Like the Film Fest of all things. I figured I’d go out and volunteer at the veteran center and places I’m accustomed to, but volunteering actually pulls you into directions you never would have thought of. [For example], I’ve been involved with Hamilton Hall quite a bit since I’ve been in Salem. So, that’s what I like about volunteering, I never really know what next year or next month or next week is gonna look like. 

Jasmina K: Seems like your work as a social worker really affects your worldview, have you taken any aspects from that towards working at the Film Fest?

BB-N: There was one film, I watched it and other people watched it, and it was really interesting to see the dynamics of how the lenses that different people wear, what you pull out of a situation. So, here we all are watching the same film, but we see different things and we interpret it differently. Film, I would say, like the performing arts, the creative arts, the expressive arts, once again it’s a way for people that are otherwise different or identify differently, even marginalized folks, to approach a topic that is very difficult and discuss it. And what I love about the Salem Film Fest is that we have a very safe environment, regardless of what’s going on. We all feel safe to express ourselves. 

LZ: What are some challenges you’ve faced while volunteering?

BB-N: For me, it’s saying no. I credit almost everything I have in life to volunteers, or to someone who has reached out to me without me even asking for their help, and really just embrac[ed] me. I’ve just learned in the past couple of years how to know where my limit is and where I fit best. I’m really passionate about the Film Fest, the selection committee, and being involved in the Film Fest in general. It takes a lot of diversity to pull off an operation like a film festival, so I find that I fit very well.

KT: You were saying that you find you want to do things that help people. Do you think showing films at the Film Fest, especially more diverse ones, helps people by spreading stories and educating people? 

BB-N: I really do, not just for them but for myself, and once again it does so in a way that's very non-confrontational. You're in a theater, a safe space, and you're able to engage at the level that you want to, so you can be as involved as you want, and at any time you can pull back. A film fest allows a person to engage [with] and observe knowledge they may have never seen before. Then they can choose to go on further and explore or say “that's not my cup of tea” and not worry about someone judging them. 

photo credit: Fae Phoenix Photo

LZ: What do you think viewers should know about the Fest?

Ms. B-N: I was recently asked about the Salem Film Fest and what makes it different. To me, the major difference I've seen is our interaction with filmmakers. That’s really our mission, is to not only show the film but to the best of our ability to bring the filmmakers, [who] come from everywhere, to the community so that they can discuss the film with the viewers and allow that interaction. 

JK: Is there anything else you feel we have missed about the Film Fest that people should know or anything you feel we should talk about?

Ms. B-N: I would love for younger people to be involved at pretty much any level, particularly our screening committee. If we could get more younger people, with much more diverse worldview[s], involved in the Film Fest I'm pretty sure those younger folks would bring that back to their community and their families. Then that's going to start discussion. Change is very uncomfortable for many adults, and rather than admit it and name it we push back. But the younger folks are just like “bring it on, bring it on.” Any young folks who are willing to step out on the ledge, I would encourage that and want to see that with Salem, especially while I'm there because I would stand behind that person and help them.

Filmmaker Spotlight: Francisco Núñez Capriles, Co-Director of FANTASTIC NEGRITO: Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?

Beyond the bombastic stage persona of Fantastic Negrito lies a 51-year-old survivor, hustler, and self-described ‘recovering narcissist’ named Xavier Dphrepaulezz. After his improbable midlife transformation from busking bluesman to back-to-back Grammy winner, Xavier is now ready to face his demons.

Full of musical performances and featuring intimate and often hilarious interviews with philosopher-poet Xavier and his brilliant band of collaborators and close friends, the film traces his journey from early isolation as a Black Muslim kid in rural Massachusetts to Bay Area star with a global fanbase. Along the way, the story of a singular musician unfolds as Xavier evolves from misfit, to homeless teenager, drug dealer, struggling L.A. pop hopeful, underground punk innovator, and urban farmer. From tragedy to triumph to tragedy and back again, FANTASTIC NEGRITO: Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? is a rollercoaster story of life and creation after destruction.

FANTASTIC NEGRITO: Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? will make its East Coast premiere at Salem Film Fest, screening in-person at The Cabot in Beverly, on Sunday, March 26 at 5pm followed by a Q&A with Co-Director Yvan Iturriaga.  Program Director Jeff Schmidt caught up with Co-Director Francisco Núñez Capriles  ahead of the festival.

FANTASTIC NEGRITO: Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?  Co-Directors Francisco Núñez Capriles and Yvan Iturriaga.

Jeff Schmidt: How did you meet Xavier/Fantastic Negrito, and at what point did you say to yourselves, "hey, we should make a movie"? Was Xavier/Fantastic Negrito onboard right away, or did it take some coaxing?

Francisco Núñez Capriles: I moved to the Bay in 2016 from Chile, where I worked for many years in media production and filmmaking. In 2019, I was working in construction. But I needed to get back to film. I found a Craigslist ad for a video production internship at the studio of local musician Fantastic Negrito. I didn't know much about him, but after a little research and listening to his music I was impressed by his talent and I thought, “This is perfect for me. It’s an underground space, run by people of color in West Oakland, and I could feel comfortable there.” And I thought my technical skills could compensate for my (lack of) English, and that I could contribute to the work they were doing.

So I was shooting promo videos for the internship, and realized something really exciting was happening with Xavier and his collaborators. X was in a transitional moment. He had just won his second Grammy, and was getting a lot of recognition and I think he was feeling empowered to talk about issues in a way he hadn’t before, and that came out in his creative process, writing this really personal album about himself and his community. 

And I asked, “Is anyone making this documentary?” And they told me, “What are you talking about?” So I switched my question to, “Is it okay if I start filming a documentary about Xavier and all this?” And they said, “Yes, of course.” But I don’t think X or his team expected a documentary in the end, although they were always supportive of us and the project.

JS: What was your production timeline, how long did you film with him and was it a challenge in the edit or did it come together easily?

FNC: I started filming in fall of 2019. I filmed a lot of really interesting behind-the-scenes material in the studio as they recorded Fantastic Negrito's third album. As an artist, it was really inspiring for me to see their process. But I didn't have a documentary yet. And at some point I started to try to find funding for producing this film, but I started to see my limitations again, in many ways, not just about funding but also still language, and also because I’m a recent immigrant still trying to fully understand this place where I’m living.

So I started thinking, “What can I do?” And I remembered when I was working in construction I talked with a Chilean contractor, who has a lot of artistic sensibility, and he told me, “Hey, you need to meet my son, because he’s also a filmmaker.”  And that was Yvan’s dad, and so I called Yvan and showed him the material, and he came onboard as a co-director and executive producer. That was in early 2020, right as the pandemic was starting. 

Our total production timeline was around three years from when I first started shooting. With Yvan, we spent almost a year shooting interviews and reenactments, before we brought on our fantastic editor, Charnelle Quallis. It took around one year to complete the editing process.

JS: Were there any particular moments during filming that you found challenging or surprising?

FNC: It was really surprising, very early in the process, to have such transparent and complete access to the musical creation. In terms of challenges, obviously the pandemic delayed and shifted our plans. Originally, we hoped to shoot X performing the album live in concert, but the album tour was cancelled due to COVID, so we had to get creative in terms of telling this story without those moments. I think the pandemic also changed the frame of the film -- the title of the album (and the doc), "Have You Lost Your MInd Yet?" took on new meaning when we were all stuck inside, trying to stay healthy and stay sane.

JS: What has Xavier's reaction been to the film?

FNC: He told us that it made him feel a lot of ways – happy, nostalgic, sad, and uncomfortable – and that that meant that the film captured something real about his story. 

JS: What do you hope people will take away from your film?

FNC: Xavier's story is inspiring in many ways, and how he approaches his problems offers us clues to deal with our own difficult experiences that sometimes haunt us or are unresolved. One of his songs has a great lyric: "Take that bullshit and turn it into good shit," and I think that synthesizes one of the ideas of the film, how art and creation can serve as a healing tool.

FANTASTIC NEGRITO: Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? screens in-person at The Cabot on Sunday, March 26 at 5pm followed by a Q&A with Co-Director Yvan Iturriaga - tickets available here. 

The film is also available for streaming during the virtual portion of the festival, March 27 - April 2 - tickets available here.